Not Edwardstone’s day but don’t write off our stable-star just yet

November 14

Alan has already gone on record as saying that Edwardstone might try two and a half miles again on what will be the 11-year-old’s final season, and it was crystal-clear in today’s Shloer Chase at a mud-spattered Cheltenham that our 10-race winning superstar is crying out for a longer trip.

Make no mistake, though Edwardstone was eventually beaten more than 30 lengths into fourth place behind L’Eau du Sud, he has run much better than that might suggest.

Edwardstone jumped super all the way round, and four fences from home Tom Cannon was stalking the leaders and looking a danger to all.

However, by the time the small field had reached the next obstacle the leaders were really trapping, and it was that increase in pace which found out Edwardstone, who suddenly began to look as if he was feeling his years when asked to go this tempo which is all part of a top-class two-mile steeplechase.

Tom Cannon, who has enjoyed such a wonderful association with Edwardstone, sensibly looked after him when he had been dropped by the leaders, and, hopefully, Edwardstone will have another ‘day in the sun’ before retirement beckons next spring.

Edwardstone’s only previous attempt at two and a half miles over fences was in the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton in the winter of 2024. He was a well-beaten fourth behind Banbridge that day, but he raced keenly and, while understandably he has lost some of his speed, you ignore him at your peril when he reverts to two and a half miles.

We hope to have two runners at Cheltenham tomorrow, but, following torrential rain throughout this afternoon, a precautionary inspection has been announced for 7.30 am,

Rain is forecast to continue until 1am, but it should be dry afterwards, so, while it does not help that the  track has now been opened up after today’s racing, we all have fingers and toes firmly crossed as we head home for a change of clothes.

+